They divide England into 44 “footprints”, with the aim of slashing £22 billion by 2020. The Tories claim that “consolidating” and “centralising” services is necessary in order to improve patient care.

While some high end treatment—such as heart surgery—is best provided in large hubs, the Tories are planning wholesale cuts.

Every week there is another revelation about the scale of the NHS crisis.

But opposition to the STPs is growing, with local groups springing up to oppose them.

Around 170 people joined a “howl of protest” opposite parliament in central London last Saturday.

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It included a coach load of activists from Grantham in Lincolnshire. Stephen from the local campaign told Socialist Worker, “Since August our accident and emergency department has been closed for 14 hours each night.

“Now they’re discussing downgrading it to an urgent care unit.

“If that happens the nearest A&E will be Lincoln, which is 24 miles away on poor rural roads.”

Hundreds more joined howls of protest in Liverpool, Leeds and Barnstaple in Devon.

Activists also held a “die in” in support of the NHS outside Manchester Royal Infirmary at the same time as the howls last Saturday.

Health campaigners are now building for the national demonstration in defence of the NHS on 4 March, which has been called by Health Campaigns Together and supported by the People’s Assembly, the Unite union and—agreed last week—the Unison union.

Charlotte from the Horton hospital campaign in Berkshire told Socialist Worker, “We’re hoping it will be another poll tax.

“When enough people say no, the government has to listen.”

Stephen added, “It needs to be bigger and louder than ever before so we can force the government to change track.”

A number of local councils have refused to sign off on the STPs, which is a major roadblock to the Tories’ plans.

Health campaigners are now pushing for those Labour councils to support the demonstration.

The whole Labour Party—and other union leaders—should support and practically build the demonstration.